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Gen Z has gotten rather creative with its coffee-sipping aesthetic. The result? An artsy, cute set-up in the home kitchen or in a nook in the house that resembles a kitschy cafe. Home cafes are more than just about making coffee cheaper or cutting out the time spent in line to get your morning cuppa.
They are more about curating a cosy experience, a creative budget-friendly ritual that feels just as comforting as stepping into your favourite local coffee haunt for a catch-up with friends. And curating this home cafe at home can be quite a fun activity.
Step 1: A Dedicated Coffee Corner
The idea behind curating a home cafe is a simple one: great coffee, minimal equipment, comforting vibes and artsy presentation. So, the first step is to designate a corner of the kitchen towards preparing this cafe booth. Keep that corner of the house minimalistic and clutter-free. 
Just pull together a few wooden chairs or rattan furniture, some thoughtfully sourced coffee mugs, a tray or a small shelf for holding the coffee and a small succulent or scented candle to create that aesthetic cafe-style look.
Step 2: Minimal Coffee-Making Equipment
Once the coffee corner is set-up, move over to the corner of the kitchen where you would actually make the coffee. Basic coffee-making equipment like ground coffee, a milk frother or whisk, a kettle for boiling water and a glass jar or blender for shaking iced coffee is enough to kickstart the home cafe. 
Without investing in too much expensive equipment, one can rely on a simple filter coffee machine or a French press to extract aromatic and complexly flavoured coffees with this clean, uncomplicated set-up.
Step 3: Master 3-4 Signature Drinks
Hosting friends at a home cafe is a fun process but it is also quite demanding. Since you will be the host and the barista rolled into one, it is up to you to master a few different types of coffee, lattes and matchas that you can offer anyone who shows up to hangout with you. 
An iced coffee or cafe latte, a cold coffee with ice cream, a matcha latte, a freshly brewed French press or Aeropress Americano and an indulgent hot chocolate are among some options you can choose from while designing your home cafe menu. Get the hang of preparing these drinks smoothly, efficiently and speedily to make your home cafe experience immersive and authentic. Spend some time mastering their presentation too, so the coffee serves look like they came from an actual coffee shop.
Step 4: Easy, Cafe-Style Snacks
Replicating a Gen Z-style home cafe means paying attention to snacking options. These needn’t be too complicated, just munchies that are easy-to-make and which pair well with different coffee types. Butter cookies or chocolate chip cookies are the easiest to make ahead of time. 
Other, more elaborate snacks include buttered toast with savoury toppings, grilled sandwiches or even pancakes. What snacks you plan also depends on the time of the day when you host. While pancakes are excellent breakfast options, a good banana and walnut tea cake can accompany an afternoon coffee cup shared with your friends in this home set-up.
Step 5: Set The Cafe Mood
Start brewing coffee before guests arrive so its aromas waft around the kitchen, building into the coffee shop mood. Soft background music, a clean countertop and subtle lights can build into this vibe even more. Think of a theme like a rustic barn-style cafe or a chic modern coffee shop and curate a space which reflects the experience you want guests to savour in the comfort of your home.
